Penang freak storm: Inquest to be held to certify death of missing hawker

An inquest will be carried out to certify the death of 44-year-old economy rice seller who is believed buried in a crater in Macalister Road, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the inquest, to be carried out for three days starting today, was to give closure to Lim Chin Aik's family.

“Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi will lead the inquest team. The results will be forwarded to the National Registration Department so a death certificate can be issued for the family to file their insurance claim,” he said at the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery in Macalister Road near the incident site yesterday.

Lim is believed to be buried 7m under the rubble following the collapse of a lightning arrestor from Menara Umno after a deadly storm last Thursday.

The impact of the structure's fall also killed Indian national Jahir Hussain Sulaiman, 46.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said this was the best decision as search and rescue operation had to be called off as cracks had started to develop on the museum building and the Pakistani Mosque due to the digging.

Dr Ahmad Zahid added that since Lim was the sole breadwinner of his family, it was important that they receive help as soon as possible.

“I will inform the welfare department to help Lim's family as soon as possible,” he said.

Great Eastern Northern Bancassurance regional manager Ooi Kok Soon said, for the accidental death claim, a claimant has to submit a death certificate, police report and a post-mortem report.

Several Penang Hospital forensic department's pathologists led by Datuk Dr Zahari Noor were later seen checking out the wrecked car parts dug out from the crater.

Dr Zahari said they were looking for human body parts and tissues but did not find anything.

“We have asked the authorities to drain the crater so that we can see if we can retrieve something.”

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government planned to carry out checks on all high-rise buildings with tall structures.

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Malaysians and tourists put on masks in Malacca

Many locals and tourists were seen wearing face masks as the historic city was shrouded in haze.

Low visibility also slowed down traffic to the major tourist areas in the city.

However, activities that were planned earlier, such as the dragon boat race, held in conjunction with the annual Malacca River Festival, went on as scheduled yesterday.

Malacca Health and Sports Development executive chairman Datuk Ab Rahaman Ab Karim said the state government would consider cancelling outdoor, sports and co-curriculum activities in schools if the situation worsened.

“Classes will continue as of now but we will stop all outdoor activities in schools if the need arises.

“In the meantime, we are monitoring the Air Pollution Index readings closely,” he said.

Ab Rahaman said the state Health Department would also consider distributing free face masks to all students and civil servants.

In Muar, the clear weather in the morning turned hazy suddenly by mid-afternoon.

Visibility dropped to less than half a nautical mile in most parts of the coastal areas.

The Muar river estuary, the Muar Bridge and most of the areas in town as well as Tanjung Agas were covered by thick haze by 4pm.

Muar marine police chief Asst Supt Nordin Osman said as visibility in the sea was poor, all vessels plying the Malacca Straits should take precautions and navigate with utmost care.

“Fishermen in small boats should refrain from going out to the sea for now and fishing trawlers must switch on their lights,” he added.

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Don’t fall for Opposition’s lies, students abroad urged

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has reminded Malaysian students overseas not to fall for the Opposition’s lies to the extent of not supporting the Government.

The Prime Minister said the slander spread by the Opposition during the recent 13th general election (GE13), for instance, had resulted in the students getting the wrong perception of the Government.

“Until today, there is no proof of the Opposition’s claim that we had brought in 40,000 Bangladeshis (to vote for the Barisan Nasional). This is slander and a very big lie,” he said.

“That’s why I ask: Are people not able to think? It has turned out that some people cannot think wisely,” said Najib, questioning the people’s level of intelligence and rationality over such issues.

Najib was speaking at a luncheon with Malaysian students in Indonesia at the multipurpose hall in the Malaysian embassy at Kuningan, here, yesterday.

Also present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin Syed Hassan.

Najib is here on a personal visit to meet up with a number of Indonesian leaders close to him, and for a rest after GE13.

He urged the Malaysian students to think rationally – whether it was possible for Barisan to bring in 40,000 Bangladeshis to vote for the ruling coalition because it would require 100 jumbo planes to fly them to Malaysia and 1,000 buses to take them to polling stations.

He said the Opposition’s claim was absurd. “I, as the Barisan chairman, strongly refute that there was cheating by Barisan (in the GE13), as alleged. The general election was conducted in a fair manner and in accordance with the law and regulations.”

Najib said Barisan had carried out many transformations in terms of delivery over the last four years and had validly won the GE13, but it lost in the war of perception because of the slander and lies churned out by the Opposition through the alternative media, which many people believed in more than the truth provided by the mainstream media.

“For the next general election, Barisan must equip itself well to fight in the war of perception,” he said.

“In reality, we have delivered, as Malaysia is increasingly prosperous and a good example for many countries, but perceived otherwise by some quarters,” he lamented. “The war of perception is thus the biggest challenge for Barisan.”

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Number of diabetics in Malaysia alarming

An alarming 3.6 million adults are estimated to be affected by diabetes in Malaysia, according to the Obesity Prevention Council President, Jong Koi Chong.

Jong said the number was very high and has put Malaysia as the number one country in Asean for having the highest number of diabetics and sixth in the western pacific region.

"That is not an achievement to be proud of and we must all work together and help educate the public on the importance of prevention and maintenance of the disease," he said.

During the 4th National Diabetes Conference here Friday, Jong said compared to 2006 where only 8.6 percent adults in Malaysia had diabetes, the most recent study done in 2011 showed 15.2 percent adults were diabetic.

Also present at the conference was Director of Medical Development department in the Health Ministry, Datuk Dr Azmi Shapie and the Malaysian Diabetes Association (MDA) President, Professor Datuk Dr Ikram Shah Ismail.

Dr Ikram Shah said Malaysia had surpassed the World Health Organisation's estimation of 807,000 diabetics in 2025.

He added that diabetes was a chronic disease that can be prevented and for those affected, diabetes can be managed to delay or prevent its complications.

Meanwhile, Dr Azmi advised Malaysians to prevent, manage diabetes and its complications by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making better choices in their diet.

He added that blindness, kidney failure, gangrene leading to amputations and heart disease are complications that can be prevented by making better choices and having a balanced diet.

"Making small changes in our lifestyle will make a big difference. We should walk more, take the stairs instead of an elevator and avoid fatty food, especially, late night," he said.

Dr Azmi also advised the public to go for regular medical check up at least twice annually.

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Freak thunderstorm ravages Penang

A freak thunderstorm raged in Penang, causing massive damage to property, uprooting trees and jamming up the Penang Bridge.

A 32-year-old farmer in Ayer Itam also died of a heart attack after suffering a shock when a tree fell near him while he was out on an evening walk.

Nine people were injured, two of them seriously, as the effects of the storm were felt all over the state at 6.45pm yesterday.

One of the worst scenes was in Jalan Macalister when a giant telecommunications antenna was ripped off from the top of the 21-storey Menara Umno building.

The 80-foot antenna tower came crashing down several minutes after the storm hit, crushing a lorry and seven cars. Five people were hurt, including the two who were seriously injured.

Penang Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the rescuers at the scene performed CPR on the two who were badly injured.

He said their injuries were believed to be severe.

The damaged lorry was believed to be carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters.

Several people were running helter skelter, seeking cover from the downpour and winds.

Traffic snarls were reported on both the island and mainland, including at the Esplanade, Weld Quay, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Jalan Sungai Pinang, Jalan Datuk Keramat and Jalan Tanjong Tokong as well as the bridge.

The jam at the bridge was caused after a tree fell onto the mainland bound lane, blocking the three lane stretch for several minutes.

The stretch was reopened at about 8.20pm after firemen removed the tree.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said 23 areas were affected by the storm.

The police were working around the clock with the firemen as well as other government agencies and local authorities to clear the debris caused by uprooted trees and blown apart roofs.

In Butterworth, Seberang Prai Municipal Council president Maimunah Sharif said several trees were uprooted in Bandar Perda, Jalan Kulim and Machang Bubok.

She said the council's special squad, comprising six emergency response team members, was deployed to help clear the debris.

“This is one of the worst storms ever to have hit the state,” she said.

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Dengue kills 22, including two toddlers, in first half of 2013

Three people, including two toddlers, died of dengue-related complications over the past week as Malaysia saw a rise in deaths related to the pandemic over the first six months of this year.

Figures released by the Health Ministry Thursday showed that a total of 22 people had died as at June 10 this year, an increase by one fatality compared to the same six-month period a year earlier.

“The three deaths reported last week include two children aged one from Penang and Malacca. The third fatality was a housewife from Selangor.

“In all cases, death was due to dengue-related complication or Dengue Shock Syndrome,”

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Neighbours’ quick action saves toddler from abduction

Concerned neighbours and their frantic SMSes saved a toddler from being kidnapped here.

A man, on the pretext of delivering fish, had rushed into the child's home in Jalan Bakariah and tied up his mother.

He snatched the year-old boy away and demanded that the family come up with a ransom for the child's release during the 10.30am incident on Tuesday.

Neighbours, who saw the man driving away with the child, took down the car's number plate and spread it among their friends via text message on their phones.

The message, written in Chinese, spread fast and even the kidnapper, apparently, got wind of the SMSes.

He aborted his plan and abandoned the boy at a hawker centre in Yong Peng, about 55km from here.

A woman trader found the child, who has yet to learn to walk, near a toilet.

She bathed and fed him before taking the child to the Yong Peng police station at about 1pm the same day.

The child and his parents were reunited at the station at around 7pm.

Recalling the ordeal, the child's mother said the man had come to her house that morning to say he was delivering fish from her father-in-law.

“When I opened the door to the house, he rushed in and quickly tied me up.

“He then grabbed my son and told me that we have to pay a ransom for the child's release,” she said.

Muar acting police chief Supt Shahadan Jaafar said the police were searching for the abductor, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961.

He urged witnesses and those with information on the incident to report to the nearest police station.

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Career in police force promises bright future

Life in the police force can be highly challenging yet rewarding.

A career of upholding the law and serving the people was one of the best choices of her life, said ASP Rodiah Mohtar, 48.

“Being a policewoman has taught me a lot of life lessons like patience and discipline,” she said, adding that it has made her a much better person.

She joined the force because she admired those in uniform like her father, who was in the army.

“I remember feeling so proud the first time I wore it,” she said at Bukit Aman yesterday.

ASP Rizal Abdul Rahman Sidek, 38, said he loves meeting people from all walks of life.

“I get to see many people and help solve their problems,” he said.

He added that it was an exciting job despite the long and sometimes unpredictable hours.

“I love what I do but there are sacrifices, like the limited family time,” he said.

For DSP Osman Mamat, the job always comes first as the uniform comes with a responsibility to serve the people.

“When I joined the force in 1981, my salary was RM270 per month. You do not join the force to become rich,” he said.

He said one of the most haunting memories of his career was being one of the first rescuers during the Highland Towers tragedy.

All three of them said they would recommend people to join the force as it promises a bright future for those willing to work hard.

“Those who join must have a passion for the job and be ready to sacrifice for the greater good,” they said.

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No travel restrictions to Saudi Arabia over coronavirus scare

Health deputy director general (Public Health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman.

No travel restrictions have been imposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on travel to Saudi Arabia following the recent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) scare but the Health Ministry is taking the needed precautions.

Health deputy director general (Public Health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said that the Health Ministry was taking the necessary precaution by increasing communications with travel agencies for the Umrah and potential Haj travellers.

"We are ready for the Ramadan season," he said in a press conference after its excellent service awards ceremony here on Tuesday.

Dr Lokman also said that the Ministry had also enhanced its surveillance capacity and increased the capacity of its laboratories to detect the virus.

On June 5, the WHO issued a guidance on update to travel recommendations for MERS-CoV that WHO published on May 20.

Since September 2012, more than 50 cases of MERS-CoV have been identified globally and about half of these people had died.

All cases identified so far have had either a direct or indirect connection with the Middle East.

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Time to make criminals fear the law

Criminals have no fear of the police and are even daring enough these days to rob during dinners, weddings and funerals.

Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who is Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman, said the criminals believe they won't get caught due to poor law enforcement.

“I feel we have lagged in terms of law enforcement that strikes fear in the hearts of the criminals,” he said.

Just days ago, a group of about 10 parang-wielding men held up several customers and the owner of the Simmei Seafood and Steamboat restaurant at Taman Taynton View in Cheras.

The robbers, wearing crash helmets, arrived in two cars at about 5am when the customers were having supper.

They got away with about RM4,000 from the cash register and a total of about RM16,000 in cash and valuables from the customers.

Such shockingly brazen robberies is causing the public to lose respect for the police and law enforcement.

“There should be zero tolerance to crime,” Lee said. “Enforcement agencies must have a no-nonsense approach to law enforcement to regain the trust and respect of the people.

“There must not be double standards and the law must be enforced without fear or favour.”

According to Lee, cooperation between the public and the police must be stepped up as well.

“Such initiatives will make for more-effective crime-prevention efforts,” he said.

He said this could be in the form of having more Rukun Tetangga areas and organising joint patrols with policemen.

“There is also a need for more public awareness of such campaigns,” he added.

Taman Gasing Indah Rukun Tetangga chairman Eric Chew said there are about 35 residents taking part in the voluntary patrols in his neighbourhood.

“We patrol on foot from 9pm to midnight every night and occasionally have two or three policemen in the group.”

Chew said his Rukun Tetangga also organises talks and other community-based activities to encourage residents to combat crime together with police.

Businessman Seng Tack Soon, 44, who is the Taman Sungai Besi Rukun Tetangga chairman, also wants to organise additional activities such as gotong-royong and potluck parties for residents to socialise.

“There are about 65 residents taking part in the patrols, which happen at least three times a week, from 8pm to 11pm.

“On average 15 to 20 members take part each time,” Seng said.

While these volunteer patrols are a big help to the police in the fight against crime, the Rukun Tetangga groups are also helping to unify Malaysians and promote good neighbourliness.

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Support for campaign against crime

Groups and experts have stressed on the need for practical approaches to fight crime and to make the Government’s United Against Crime campaign a success.

Chico Force Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Juniur Khoo, whose company is involved in a Government pilot security project at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) in Klang, said strategic location of CCTV cameras and their proper monitoring were important.

“It (better security) does not just have to be via the number of guards, but strategic placement of CCTV cameras and monitoring them closely.

“We have proven this with our project at HTAR and have successfully brought down the crime rate there,” he said, adding that the hospital had undergone a “security transformation” over the past 15 months.

Khoo said local security firms could benefit from more exposure by tying up with international security experts to learn about the latest in security technology.

Bukit Bintang-KLCC Tourism Association chairman and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur chief executive officer Joyce Yap called for better training for security guards, adding that more CCTV cameras and guards were needed at shopping complexes.

However, she noted that many Malaysians refused to work as security guards, leading to most companies engaging foreign labour.

Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the anti-crime campaign should do more in engaging the public in talks and self-defence workshops, and improving confidence with the police, adding that a pledge in the form giving one’s signature was purely an expression of support.

Lee also stressed on continuing efforts with police presence in public areas and dialogue between residents and their local law enforcement representatives to improve security.

Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association president Datuk Seri Michael Yam said developers supported the campaign because security in housing areas was directly related to property value.

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Penang bridge ramp collapse: An unmoving arm spotted in crushed car

A search camera has detected an unmoving arm in the car lying crushed under tons of concrete and steel after an uncompleted ramp of a flyover connecting the still-under-construction second Penang bridge at Batu Maung collapsed Thursday night.

Rescuers have found part of a number plate with the number "437" from the rubble.

Police believe it is the first three digit of a number plate.

State deputy police chief SAC Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said Friday that a search camera was used and rescuers caught a glimpse of a victim's arm but no movement or response detected.

"We can't ascertain how many victims are there but there's at least one detected.

"It was in a green Perodua Kelisa," he said.

SAC Abdul Rahim said police could not identify the victim and urged anyone with family members missing since Thursday night to approach the police.

Rescue work has been ongoing for more than 14 hours.

"Hundreds of tonnes of concrete and steel collapsed and we need to depend on heavy machinery to aid in clearing work.

Over 300 rescuers from police, Fire Department, JPAM and contractors are working to get to the crushed car.

He said clearing work was expected to be completed this evening.

"We hope the public can be patient," he said.

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Four feared dead after a ramp linking Penang expressway collapses

Four people were feared killed when a section of the ramp connecting the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to the second Penang bridge in Batu Maung collapsed.

The section, which fell onto at least one lane of the expressway, was believed to have buried two passing cars and a motorcycle under its debris.

Police said initial information revealed that the four victims in a car were feared dead.

Balik Pulau deputy OCPD Supt Lai Fah Hin confirmed that a car was found smashed.

Penang deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said three people were injured. The incident, which occurred during rush hour at 7pm yesterday, caused a massive traffic jam.

Hundreds of rescue workers, including firemen, voluntary fire-fighters and Civil Defence Department personnel, were removing the rubble.

At press time, a motorcyclist had been pulled out of the rubble. He sustained injuries to his head.

Bridge concessionaire Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd public relations and communications deputy manager Azizi Azizan said the segment which collapsed was being cast at that time.

He said it happened after the scaffolding supporting it collapsed.

He added that investigations were being carried out to find out why both structures collapsed.

He said the segment was part of one of three ramps at the interchange linking the expressway to the bridge.

Azizi said two cranes were being used in the rescue efforts.

He added that further details would be provided today.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, who was at the scene, said a 30m-long span of the ramp was believed to have collapsed.

At 9.20pm, state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng said the authorities had yet to confirm the cause of the accident.

Traffic policemen were deployed to the scene to direct traffic and the section of the expressway has been closed to facilitate rescue work.

Motorist R. Thilasheni, 24, whose car windscreen was shattered by a falling beam in the incident, was still in a state of shock.

“We were only three seconds away when the ramp collapsed. We were lucky to have come out alive,” she added.

She was travelling with her friend G. Gajashaantini, 24, at that time.

The RM4.4bil 24km-long bridge is scheduled for completion next month.

It will be the longest bridge in South-East Asia and the 20th longest in the world when completed. It is scheduled to go through road commissioning and testing in August before being officially opened in September.

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Computer retailer raided third time for installing pirated software

A stubborn computer retailer is raided for the third time for selling computers installed with pirated software.

State Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry chief enforcement officer Abdul Rosik Yakub said on Thursday, four officers found three notebooks and three desktops installed with 12 copies of pirated software from the operation carried out on Wednesday at about 1.30pm.

He added that the value of the seizures was estimated to cost about RM33,000.

"The shop had been raided twice in 2011.

"The operation was a result following a complaint from the software copyright owner," he said in a press conference at the ministry office in Downing Street here.

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Belaga petrol quota raised since search operation for boat victims

The petrol supply quota for Belaga had been raised since early June following the search and rescue operations for victims of the express boat, which sank in the district on May 28.

The director of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) for Sarawak, Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman, said today the additional delivery of the 9,600 litres had been approved on Monday.

"The additional supply is expected to arrive in Belaga town by road from Bintulu town today," he told Bernama here.

He said this when commenting on a news report on Thursday that claimed that Belaga almost ran out of petrol supply after a major portion of its supply had been used for the search operations, which had entered its 10th day.

He said the situation reported by the press was temporary in nature and advised consumers in Belaga town not resort to panic buying which would only aggravate the situation. Wan Ahmad Uzir said the delay in the delivery was due to the poor condition of the road that the delivery lorries had to take to reach the town, which is located about 180km from Bintulu town.

He said some sections of the road leading to the tragedy site were logging roads and this caused the lorry drivers to move slowly and took a long time to reach Belaga town.

"I am also told by the lorry company operators that not all their lorries were running because the lorry drivers were on leave to celebrate Gawai Dayak," he said.

He said that in a normal situation, Belaga was allocated 80,000 litres of petrol a month but because of the search and rescue operations, some of the quota for the month of July had been used in June.

"We will monitor the situation from time to time to ensure that there is no supply shortage," he added.

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Wasteful ways of #Malaysian gluttons

Malaysia is a food heaven – but it is also one giant food dump.

It generates about 15,000 tonnes of food and kitchen waste daily – enough to fill 7.5 football fields or to feed 7.5 million people a day.

This is a hike from 2011, where about 930 tonnes of unconsumed food were thrown away every day. And that was double the 2009 figure.

In Kuala Lumpur alone, the waste comes up to about 3,000 tonnes a day while the Consumers Association of Penang claimed that the island alone generated 355 tonnes of food waste every day.

Of the amount wasted, between 10% and 15% comprised unconsumed and expired food.

At 10-course Chinese dinners for example, 30% of food goes to waste.

There is a silver lining, though. People are opting for fewer courses at Chinese dinners and with hoteliers reporting fewer people wasting food at buffets.

Waste management specialist Dr Theng Lee Chong said that hosts were opting for lesser quantity of food and reducing the number of courses to seven or eight.

“But in the long run, we still need to educate Malaysians on the need to not waste food.

“We should only take what we can consume,” he said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel had called on Malaysians to make the “right lifestyle choice” and to reduce food waste and losses in line with the campaign of the World Environmental Day today.

With the theme “Think. Eat. Save”. Reduce Your Foodprint – the campaign draws attention to the high volume of perfectly edible produce that never make it from the farm to the fork.

“The campaign encourages us to become more aware of the environmental impact of the food choices we make and empowers us to make informed decisions,” he said.

United Nations undersecretary-general and UN Environmental Programme executive director Achim Steiner said that at least a third of everything that was grown on the planet is lost between the field and the consumer.

“It is an ethical, economic and environmental issue given the enormous waste of energy, water, fertilisers and other inputs as a result of food that is produced but never eaten.

“Each one of us can do something about this and that’s why, through Think. Eat. Save. Reduce Your Foodprint campaign, we invite people across the world to join us to raise awareness and to take practical action whether in your home, your farm, in the supermarket, in a canteen, a hotel or anywhere else where food is prepared and consumed,” he said in a statement.

Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association president Datuk R. Ramalingam Pillai lamented that food wastage was quite rampant in Malaysia.

He attributed this to the attitude of Malaysians, most of whom he said took food for granted.

“In other parts of the world, there are people going without food and here we are throwing food away,” he added.

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Woman held over Facebook post

A 32-year-old woman who had been in hiding after she allegedly insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong via social media site Facebook has been detained.

She was picked up in Taman Nirwana, Ampang, at 9.30am yesterday.

A Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) spokesman said the commission, in collaboration with the police, successfully tracked down the suspect, who was said to have insulted Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah on Facebook.

“The woman was detained by police to assist in the MCMC investigations into the alleged insult,” the spokesman said in a statement yesterday.

He said the suspect was believed to have been in hiding after her identity was revealed in the Internet following the alleged insults.

“The commission is also requesting for the suspect’s friends to come forward to assist in further investigations.

“The investigation was carried out under Section 233 of the Communi-cations and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said.

The MCMC, he said, viewed very seriously the abuse of social media to upload content or comments containing elements of insult especially against the monarchy.

Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Amar Singh said the woman would also be investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 over her alleged insults.

“We are also tracking down four other individuals to assist in the investigation,” he said.

He urged the individuals – Weennee Tan, Shuh Chien Loo, Hun Keat Wong and Carol Tay to come forward as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said stern action would be taken against the woman.

He said he left it to the police to investigate the matter and take the necessary action.

“They know what needs to be done,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Sungai Besi Cure and Care 1Malaysia Clinic yesterday.

It was reported on Sunday that the police were investigating a woman for posting alleged insults against the King on her Facebook page.

In Ipoh, a group of 20 NGOs lodged a police report against a blogger and a Facebook user for insulting the King.

Its spokesman Shamsul Bahrain Putra Ahmad Shibi said the NGO members were shocked and angry at the disrespectful actions of the two people who he said uttered derogatory and racist remarks against the royal institution.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jama-luddin called on the MCMC to get tough on those who posted seditious statements via social media websites.

He urged the authorities to amend the Communications and Multi­media Act 1998 to prevent slander and sedition.

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